The Benjamin School’s place at the top of Florida high school track and field will continue for a fifth consecutive year.
Benjamin’s girls track and field team won the Class 1A state championship on Wednesday, May 6 at the University of North Florida’s Hodges Stadium in Jacksonville. The Bucs finished with 62 total points, nine clear of runner-up Northside Christian.
Last year, Benjamin won its first FHSAA girls track and field state championship, picking up where the school’s boys team left off after three consecutive state titles from 2022-24.
There was a little drama for the Bucs in claiming this latest title.
Benjamin entered the meet’s finale event, the 4×400-meter relay, with a two-point lead over Northside Christian. The Bucs’ veteran lineup took second place while Northside finished eighth, securing the victory.
Senior sprinter Akari Marshall shined for the Bucs with a win in the 200-meter and runner-up finishes in the 100-meter and the 4×400-meter relay. Fellow senior Sofia Balistreri, The Post’s reigning Girls Track Runner of the Year, also scored well with a runner-up finish in the 800-meter and a leg on the aforementioned relay. Benjamin junior Kamori Reddick also grabbed a bundle of points in the field, taking runner-up in triple jump and sixth in long jump.
Pahokee junior Jamaria Richardson shined among other locals competing on the opening day of the FHSAA state meet. The junior won the 400-meter, took third in long jump and sixth in the 200-meter.
Boca Raton Christian freshman Nicholas Matsuguma secured the first track and field state championship in school history with a win in the 200-meter sprint.
Benjamin’s boys team also made a strong run at a state championship, finishing Class 1A state runner-up. The Bucs were a dozen points behind champion Holy Trinity, which won with 68 points overall.
Senior Julian Luiz closed out his decorated prep career in style with an individual win in the 400-meter hurdles. He also ran the anchor leg in a first place finish for the Bucs in the 4×400-meter relay.
Benjamin sophomore Markel Etienne and Pahokee junior Da’Corrian Jones were among the day’s other individual standouts with each finishing runner-up in the 200-meter and 400-meter, respectively.
Class 1A State Track and Field
Girls
100-meter
200-meter
400-meter
800-meter
100-meter hurdles
400-meter hurdles
4×100-meter relay
4×400-meter relay
4×800-meter relay
Long jump
Triple jump
Shot put
Javelin
Boys
100-meter
200-meter
400-meter
110-meter hurdles
400-meter hurdles
4×100-meter relay
4×400-meter relay
Long jump
High jump
Triple jump
Shot put
Eric J. Wallace is deputy sports editor for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at ejwallace@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Benjamin girls track and field wins back-to-back state titles
Reporting by Eric J. Wallace, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
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